Diagnosis apparatus for internal combustion engine

ABSTRACT

In a diagnosis apparatus for an internal combustion engine which determines the abnormality of a linear A/F sensor which is disposed on the upstream side of a catalyst of the engine and detects the A/F of exhaust gas, the apparatus includes a response/gain deterioration detection unit that separately detects the response deterioration in which the response of the linear A/F sensor is delayed and the gain deterioration in which the detection sensitivity of the linear A/F sensor is abnormal.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a diagnosis apparatus for an internalcombustion engine which detects abnormality of a linear air-fuel ratio(A/F) sensor for detecting an A/F of exhaust gas of the engine.

2. Description of the Related Art

An exhaust system in which a catalyst is provided at the exhaust pipe ofthe engine, and an A/F sensor for detecting components of the exhaustgas is attached on each of the upstream and downstream sides of thecatalyst, whereby an amount of fuel is corrected based on the detectedvalues of these sensors thereby to efficiently purify the exhaust gas bythe catalyst, is known. Since the efficiency of the exhaust systemdepends on the purification efficiency of the catalyst and theefficiencies of the A/F sensors, there is provided with a diagnosisapparatus for monitoring these efficiencies.

Thus, an example of the method for diagnosing the A/F sensor on theupstream side of the catalyst is proposed, for example, byJP-A-8-220051, in which the response time of the upstream-side A/Fsensor is monitored at the time of forcedly changing the A/F.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The conventional A/F sensor can only determine whether the A/F is richeror leaner as compared with the stoichiometric A/F at which thepurification efficiency of the catalyst is best. On the other hand, thelinear A/F sensor can detect a deviation value of the A/F on both therich and lean sides with respect to the stoichiometric A/F, whereby moreprecise A/F feedback control can be realized by using the linear A/Fsensor. There are two major deterioration modes of the linear A/Fsensor. The first mode is the response deterioration which is a failurethat the response delays as compared with the normal state due toclogging etc. of the sensor. The second mode is the gain deteriorationwhich is a failure that the response gain becomes smaller or larger ascompared with the normal state due to the poisoning of a sensor elementor the abnormality of a current detection circuit. Each of the responsedeterioration and the gain deterioration becomes a cause for raising thedeterioration of the exhaust gas due to the erroneous determination ofthe catalyst diagnosis and the abnormality of the A/F feedback control.

However, JP-A-8-220051 relates to the diagnosis method which onlydetects the abnormality of the response delay (response deterioration)of the upstream-side A/F sensor, and does not take sufficientconsideration as to the abnormality of the detection sensibility (gaindeterioration) of the linear A/F sensor for linearly detecting the A/Fof the exhaust gas.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, andan object of the present invention is to provide a diagnosis apparatusfor an internal combustion engine which separately detects the responsedeterioration and the gain deterioration of a linear A/F sensor andprevents the deterioration of the exhaust gas and the erroneousdiagnosis at the time of the abnormality of the sensor.

In order to attain the aforesaid object, the diagnosis apparatus for aninternal combustion engine according to the present invention includes aresponse/gain deterioration detection unit that separately detects theresponse deterioration in which the response of the linear A/F sensor isabnormal and the gain deterioration in which the detection sensitivityof the linear A/F sensor is abnormal. The diagnosis apparatus furtherincludes a diagnosis signal generation unit which applies A/F deviationwhose frequency (equal to or lower than 1 Hz) is lower than that of thenormal A/F control during the diagnosis of the linear A/F sensor.

Further, the present invention employs the A/F deviation by thediagnosis signal generation unit also for the catalyst diagnosis.

Furthermore, the present invention includes an abnormality alarm unitwhich notifies the gain deterioration of the linear A/F sensor to adriver.

According to the present invention, the degradation of the exhaust gasand the erroneous diagnosis due to the failure of the linear A/F sensorcan be prevented. Further, according to the present invention, thedegradation of the exhaust gas and the erroneous diagnosis of thecatalyst diagnosis due to the failure of the linear A/F sensor can beprevented. Furthermore, according to the present invention, theoccurrence of the abnormality can be notified to a driver even when onlythe gain deterioration is generated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the entire configuration of the controlsystem of a gasoline direct injection engine.

FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing the diagnosis apparatus forthe engine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are diagrams for explaining the principle of theembodiment.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are diagrams showing an example of deterioration indexesaccording to the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the conventional diagnosismethod.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the feature of the embodiment.

FIGS. 7A and 7B are diagrams showing an example of block diagramsrepresenting the procedure for realizing the embodiment.

FIGS. 8A to 8D are diagrams showing an example of the timing chart shownin FIGS. 7A and 7B.

FIGS. 9A and 9B are diagrams showing an example of the deteriorationdetection according to the embodiment.

FIGS. 10A to 10D are diagrams showing the experimental resultrepresenting the relation between the sensor deterioration and theexhaust gas deterioration.

FIG. 11 is a diagram schematically showing the control apparatus for theengine robust against the gain deterioration.

FIG. 12 is a diagram schematically showing the catalyst diagnosismethod.

FIGS. 13A and 13B are diagrams showing the experimental resultrepresenting the relation between the sensor deterioration and thecatalyst diagnosis.

FIG. 14 is a diagram schematically showing the control apparatus for theengine robust against the response deterioration.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a flowchart for explaining the operation ofthis embodiment in which the diagnosis of the LAF sensor is inhibitedwhen the abnormality of the fuel system is detected.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing another example of the deterioration indexaccording to the embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The embodiments of the present invention will be explained withreference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the entire configuration of the controlsystem of a gasoline direct injection engine 107. Suction air to beintroduced into cylinders 107 c is taken from the inlet portion 102 a ofan air cleaner 102 and supplied to a collector 106 through an air flowsensor 103 as one of operating state measuring units of the engine and athrottle body 105 in which an electric control throttle valve 105 a forcontrolling a flow rata of the suction air is housed. The air flowsensor 103 outputs a signal representing the suction-air flow rate to acontrol unit 115 serving as an engine control apparatus.

At the throttle body 105, a throttle sensor 104 is attached which servesas one of the operating state measuring units of the engine and detectsthe opening degree of the electric control throttle valve 105 a. Thesensor 104 outputs a signal representing the opening degree of thethrottle valve to the control unit 115.

The air sucked into the collector 106 is distributed into intakemanifolds 101 coupled to the cylinders 107 b of the engine 107 and thenintroduced into corresponding combustion chambers 107 c of the cylinders107 b, respectively.

Fuel such as gasoline supplied from a fuel tank 108 is primarilypressurized by a fuel pump 109, then adjusted in its pressure to aconstant value by a fuel pressure regulator 110, then secondarilypressurized to a high pressure by a high-pressure fuel pump 111 andsupplied to a common rail.

The high-pressure fuel is injected into the combustion chambers 107 cfrom injectors 112 provided at the respective cylinders 107 b. The fuelinjected into the combustion chambers 107 c is ignited by ignition plugs114 in response to ignition signals which voltages are made high byignition coils 113, respectively.

A cam angle sensor 116 attached to the cam shaft of the exhaust valveoutputs a signal for detecting the phase of the cam shaft to the controlunit 115. The cam angle sensor may be attached to the cam shaft of thesuction valve side. A crank angle sensor 117 for detecting the rotationand phase of the crank shaft of the engine is provided on the crankshaft. The output of the crank angle sensor is supplied to the controlunit 115.

An A/F sensor 118 provided on the upstream side of a catalyst 120 withinan exhaust pipe 119 detects the density of oxygen within the exhaust gasand outputs a detection signal to the control unit 115. Although theexplanation is made as to the case where the present invention isapplied to a gasoline direct injection engine, the present invention isnot limited thereto and may be applied to a port-injection engine inwhich an injector 112 is attached to a suction port.

First Embodiment

The embodiment of the present invention will be explained with referenceto FIGS. 2 to 9.

FIG. 2 schematically shows the diagnosis apparatus for the engine whichdetects the abnormality of the linear A/F sensor (LAF sensor) providedon the upstream side of the catalyst. An injector 203 is provided at thesuction port. A linear A/F sensor 204 is provided on the upstream sideof a catalyst disposed on the way of an exhaust pipe 207. An A/F sensor206 is provided on the downstream side of the catalyst 205. In thenormal A/F control (a control mode for controlling an A/F), the fuel isincreased and decreased at the frequency in a range which is larger than1 Hz and equal to or smaller than 3 Hz. The frequency of the A/F controlwill be explained. In order to set the A/F within the engine to apredetermined A/F, the control unit 115 in FIG. 1 detects the A/F withinthe exhaust pipe based on the output of the linear A/F sensor disposedwithin the exhaust pipe thereby to adjust an amount of fuel suppliedfrom the injector based on the detected A/F. The frequency of theincrease/decrease of the amount of fuel supplied from the injector atthis time is the frequency of the A/F control.

The diagnosis apparatus of the embodiment is arranged in a manner thatthe linear A/F sensor detects the A/F of the exhaust gas at the timewhere the fuel amount is increased/decreased slightly at the frequencyof 1 Hz or less by the diagnosis signal generation unit B201 (diagnosismode), and the response/gain deterioration detection unit B202 detectsseparately the response deterioration and the gain deterioration.Preferably, the low frequency range of the diagnosis mode is in a rangeof 0.3 Hz or more in view of the deterioration of the exhaust gas andthe operability.

Next, the principle of the diagnosis in this embodiment will beexplained. FIGS. 3A and 3B show the gain characteristics and the phasecharacteristics of the linear A/F sensor, respectively. In FIG. 3A, A,A′ and A″ represent the gain characteristics at the time of the normalstate, the response deterioration state and the gain deterioration stateof the linear A/F sensor, respectively. In FIG. 3B, B, B′ and B″represent the phase characteristics at the time of the normal state, theresponse deterioration state and the gain deterioration state of thelinear A/F sensor, respectively. That is, the response deteriorationrepresents a phenomenon that the gain characteristics shifts to the leftside in FIG. 3A (the low-frequency side) from the normal state (A→A′)and the phase delays from the normal state (B→B′) (see FIG. 3B). Incontrast, the gain deterioration represents a phenomenon that the gaincharacteristic shifts to the lower side in FIG. 3A (the low-gain side)from the normal state (A→A″) but the phase does not change from thenormal state (B, B″) (see FIG. 3B). When the deterioration detection ismade at the frequency (in a range which is larger than 1 Hz and equal toor smaller than 3 Hz) used in the normal A/F control, the gain changesin both the response deterioration and the gain deterioration, so thatit is possible to discriminate between the normal state and thedeterioration state. However, it is qluite difficult to discriminatebetween the response deterioration and the gain deterioration (see a inFIG. 3A). In contrast, when the deterioration detection is made at thelow frequency range c (for example, smaller than 1 Hz), the gain reducesonly at the time of the gain deterioration and the phase delays only atthe time of the response deterioration. Thus, the response deteriorationand the gain deterioration can be easily detected separately bynotifying a gain range c′ for the detection of the gain deteriorationand notifying a phase range c″ for the detection of the responsedeterioration.

FIGS. 4A and 4B show an example of deterioration indexes based on theprinciple of FIGS. 3A and 3B. The A/F is vibrated periodically at thelow frequency range by the diagnosis signal generation unit shown inFIG. 2. In this case, in the response deterioration, the period of theA/F detected by the A/F sensor (detected A/F) becomes longer than theperiod of the A/F (target A/F) given by the diagnosis signal generationunit due to the phase delay. On the other hand, in the case where thegain reduces due to the gain deterioration, the amplitude of thedetected A/F becomes smaller as compared with the amplitude of thetarget A/F due to the gain reduction. Thus, a ratio between the periodof the detected A/F and the period of the target A/F is used as theresponse deterioration index(response deterioration index=period of thedetected A/F/period of the target A/F). In contrast, a ratio between thepeak value of the amplitude of the detected A/F and the peak value ofthe amplitude of the target A/F is used as the gain deteriorationindex(gain deterioration index=peak value of the amplitude of thedetected A/F/peak value of the amplitude of the target A/F). Thus, theresponse deterioration and the gain deterioration can be easilyseparated and diagnosed in accordance with the deterioration degree ofthe response deterioration and the gain deterioration by using these twoindexes.

Next, the comparison will be made between the conventional diagnosis ofthe A/F sensor (O2 sensor) and the diagnosis of the linear A/F sensoraccording to the embodiment. According to the conventional diagnosis ofthe A/F sensor, since the O2 sensor is subjected to the diagnosis, thedeterioration detection is made only for the response deterioration. Forexample, as shown in FIG. 5, the abscissa is set to represent thefrequency of the A/F of the exhaust gas (input signal) generated by thediagnosis signal generation unit B201,whilst the ordinate is set torepresent the period of the detected A/F actually detected by the A/Fsensor disposed in the exhaust pipe. It is determined that the sensor isin the response deterioration state when a ratio of the period of thedetected A/F actually detected by the A/F sensor disposed in the exhaustpipe represented by the ordinate with respect to the frequency of theA/F of the exhaust gas (input signal) generated by the diagnosis signalgeneration unit B201 represented by the abscissa is a predeterminedvalue or more. However, according to the conventional method, it isdifficult to detect the gain deterioration since the period does notchange between the normal state and the deterioration state. On theother hand, according to the conventional technique, there is a methodof detecting the deterioration based on the gain characteristics, e. g.,a method of detecting the deterioration based on the deterioration ofthe gain characteristics at the control frequency (in a range which islarger than 1 Hz and equal to or smaller than 3 Hz). However, accordingto this conventional method, as shown in FIG. 6, there is a possibilitythat the sensor is determined to be in the gain deterioration statedespite that the sensor is normal. In FIG. 6, b represents the rangewhere the sensor is within the normal range despite that there arisesthe response deterioration slightly. In contrast, a represents the rangewhere the sensor is within the abnormal range since the gaindeterioration is remarkable despite that there does not arise anyresponse deterioration. Thus, the gain deterioration can not be detectedcorrectly in a certain range of a cross point D at which the region awhere only the gain deterioration appears crosses with the region bwhere the sensor is normal. In order to detect such a gaindeterioration, the input signal of the low frequency (equal to or lessthan 1 Hz) is necessary. According to this embodiment, the gaindeterioration, which can not be detected by the conventional method, canbe detected by notifying the gain characteristics of the low frequencyrange.

FIGS. 7A and 7B show an example of block diagrams representing theprocedure for realizing the gain deterioration determination and theresponse deterioration determination, respectively. In the gaindeterioration determination shown in FIG. 7A, an RABF (actual A/F) ispassed through a high pass filter at B701 thereby to remove a DCcomponent and a drift component therefrom. Next, the output of the HPFis converted into an absolute value at B702, and the maximum value isretrieved at B703 thereby to calculate the peak value of the detectedA/F. Then, the gain deterioration index shown in FIGS. 4B is calculatedby the normalizing processing at B704, and noise is removed by theaveraging processing at B705. Then, at B706, it is determined to be thegain deterioration when the average gain deterioration index outputtedfrom B705 is outside of the predetermined range thereby to set a gaindeterioration determination flag. On the other hand, in the responsedeterioration determination shown in FIG. 7B, the output of the highpass filter at B701 is subjected to the zero-cross detection by thezero-cross detection at B707. Then, the period of the zero-crossdetection is calculated by the periodical calculation at B708. Then, theresponse deterioration index shown in FIGS. 4A is calculated by thenormalizing processing at B709, and noise is removed by the averagingprocessing at B710. Then, at B711, it is determined to be the responsedeterioration when the average response deterioration index outputtedfrom B710 is larger than the predetermined value thereby to set aresponse deterioration determination flag.

FIGS. 8A to 8D are an example of the timing chart shown in FIGS. 7A and7B, which represents a state where the zero-cross of the output of thefilter is detected, and the maximum value and period are calculated inresponse to the zero-cross detection serving as a trigger. In thisexample, since the deterioration index calculation can be performedtwice per one period, the deterioration can be detected with a shortertime period.

FIGS. 9A and 9B show an example which represents the case where thedeterioration of the linear A/F sensor is actually detected by the blockdiagrams shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B at various vehicle speeds. FIG. 9Ashows the gain deterioration indexes when the gain deterioration or theresponse deterioration exits. On the other hand, FIG. 9B shows theresponse deterioration indexes when the gain deterioration or theresponse deterioration exits. When the gain deterioration represented atthe abscissa at each left side figure in FIGS. 9A and 9B is 100%, it isrepresented that the linear A/F sensor has no gain deterioration. Incontrast, when the response deterioration represented at the abscissa ateach right side figure in FIGS. 9A and 9B is about 100 ms, it isrepresented that the linear A/F sensor has no response deterioration. Asa result, when the determination criterion for determining the gaindeterioration is set in a range of 0.7 to 1.3, the gain deterioration of50% or less or 150% or more can be detected as the gain deterioration.Similarly, when the determination criterion for determining the responsedeterioration is set to 1.3, the response deterioration of 300 ms ormore can be detected as the response deterioration. In this case, it canbe confirmed that although the response deterioration index increases asthe degree of the response deterioration increases, the responsedeterioration index is not sensitive as to the gain deterioration.Further, it can be confirmed that although the gain deterioration indexincreases or decreases in accordance with the degree of the gaindeterioration, the gain deterioration index is not sensitive as to theresponse deterioration.

Next, FIGS. 10A to 10D show the experimental result representing therelation between the sensor deterioration and the exhaust gasdeterioration. That is, FIGS. 10A to 10D show the deteriorationcharacteristics of the exhaust gas at the time of applying the rich orlean step disturbance during the feedback control of the A/F using thelinear A/F sensor. In this case, the catalyst disposed in the exhaustpipe is normal. FIGS. 10A and 10C show the result of the gaindeterioration and FIGS. 10B and 10D show the result of the responsedeterioration. The response deterioration characteristics was notsensitive for the step disturbance, whilst the gain deteriorationcharacteristics was degraded for the step disturbance in a manner thatHC density became three times and NOx density became twice as comparedwith the state before the application of the step disturbance. Thereason of this degradation is considered that the feedback control usingthe linear A/F sensor is performed based on a deviation, but thedeviation takes a value different from the actual value due to the gaindeterioration, so that the exhaust gas was degraded. However, since thecatalyst was normal, this degradation of the exhaust gas was caused bythe gain deterioration of the sensor. Thus, when the output of thesensor is corrected in accordance with the degree of the deterioration,the degradation of the exhaust gas due to the gain deterioration can beprevented.

Next, FIG. 11 shows an example of the system for preventing thedegradation of the exhaust gas due to the gain deterioration bycorrecting the sensor. According to the conventional system, the outputof the A/F sensor is directly applied to an A/F correction unit B1103thereby to correct the A/F of the exhaust gas. In contrast, according tothe embodiment shown in FIG. 11, a sensor deterioration detection unitB1101 detects the degree of the gain deterioration, and a sensor outputcorrection unit B1102 corrects the output of the A/F sensor inaccordance with the degree of the gain deterioration. For example, whenthe gain deterioration index becomes half of the normal value, theexhaust gas efficiency similar to that in the normal state can berealized by doubling the detected output of the A/F sensor. When thesensor output is corrected in this manner by using the gaindeterioration index, it is possible to constitute the system beingrobust against the sensor deterioration which can prevent thedegradation of the exhaust gas even when the gain deterioration arises.Further, an alarm lamp B1106 is lightened in accordance with the gaindeterioration detected by the sensor deterioration detection unit B1101to notify the occurrence of the abnormality to a driver. In place of thealarm lamp, such an alarm unit capable of outputting a trouble code orlighting a mill may be employed. Alternatively, the abnormality may benotified to a driver by using a voice message. According to such analarm unit, even when only the gain deterioration representing theabnormality of the detection sensitivity occurs, it is possible tonotify the deterioration to a driver.

Second Embodiment

Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be explained withreference to FIGS. 12 to 14.

FIG. 12 shows an example of the catalyst diagnosis system. This systemincludes a unit in which a diagnosis signal generation unit B1203increases/decreases an amount of the fuel injected from the injectorsbased on an output of a rich/lean inverting unit B1202 thereby toseparately detect the abnormality of the sensor. This system furtherincludes a catalyst deterioration detection unit B1201 which detects thedeterioration state of a catalyst based on the outputs of an upstreamside linear A/F sensor and a downstream side A/F sensor. As the catalystdeterioration index of the catalyst deterioration detection unit B1201,it is possible to use a ratio of the lengths of loci, a ratio ofinversion periods, a ratio of inversion number of times, correlationbetween the upstream side and downstream side A/F sensors, for example.

FIGS. 13A and 13B show the experimentation results in which the catalystdeterioration indexes at the time of the deterioration of the sensorwere obtained by the experimentations using the catalyst diagnosissystem shown in FIG. 12. In this experimentation, the correlation wasused as the deterioration index. According to this experimentation, thedegree of the degradation of the catalyst increased as the degree of thecorrelation became larger. This is based on the fact that when thecatalyst is degraded, the amplitude of the output of the downstream sideA/F sensor becomes large due to the degradation of the oxide absorptionability of the catalyst and so the correlation between the amplitudes ofthe upstream and downstream side A/F sensors becomes large. The samecatalyst was used in all the experimentations. The catalystdeterioration indexes (correlation) were not sensitive for the gaindeterioration. In contrast, as to the response deterioration, thedeterioration indexes (correlation) increased as the degree of theresponse deterioration increased. Thus, there arises a case that thecatalyst is erroneously determined to be in the deterioration state bythe response deterioration even if the catalyst is in the normal state.This is because the inverting period of the rich/lean state becomeslonger due to the response deterioration and so the A/F is controlledwith a long period exceeding the oxide absorption ability of the normalcatalyst. Even in such a state, according to the embodiment, since theoutput of the sensor is corrected in accordance with the degree of theresponse deterioration, the erroneous diagnosis can be prevented.

FIG. 14 shows an example of the system for preventing the erroneousdetermination of the catalyst by correcting the sensor output. In thisfigure, portions having the similar functions as those of FIG. 11 areomitted in their explanation. According to this system, a sensordeterioration detection unit B1401 calculates the response deteriorationindex to obtain the degree of the response deterioration, and a sensoroutput correction unit B1402 corrects the output of the A/F sensor inaccordance with the response deterioration index. For example, when thesensor output delays in its response by 100 ms with respect to thenormal sensor, the response of the linear A/F sensor output is advancedby 100 ms by the phase advance compensation. A catalyst deteriorationdetection unit B1403 calculates the catalyst deterioration index basedon the linear A/F sensor output thus corrected and the output of thedownstream side A/F sensor thereby to realize the catalyst deteriorationdetermination system which is robust against the response deterioration.

In the catalyst diagnosis system shown in FIG. 12, since the linear A/Fsensor as well as the catalyst can be diagnosed by generating the A/Fdeviation of 1 Hz or less in the diagnosis signal generation unit B1203,both the reduction of the diagnosis time period and the reduction of theexhaust gas can be realized.

Third Embodiment

Next, a still another embodiment of the present invention will beexplained with reference to FIG. 15.

FIG. 15 shows a flowchart for explaining the operation of thisembodiment in which the diagnosis of the LAF sensor is inhibited whenthe abnormality of the fuel system is detected. In step S1501, it isdetermined whether or not the fuel system is abnormal. In this case, forexample, the fuel system may be determined to be abnormal when an A/Ffeedback correction coefficient reaches its upper limit or lower limitfor a predetermined time period or when an acceleration-pedalopening-degree feedback correction coefficient in the idling operationreaches its upper limit or lower limit for a predetermined time period.In step S1502, it is determined whether or not the fuel system isabnormal. When it is determined that the fuel system is abnormal, theprocess proceeds to step S1503, whereat an LAF sensor diagnosis inhibitflag is set to 1. In step S1504, it is determined whether or not the LAFsensor diagnosis inhibit flag is 1. When the LAF sensor diagnosisinhibit flag is 1, the process is terminated. In contrast, when the LAFsensor diagnosis inhibit flag is not 1, the process proceeds to stepS1505, whereat the LAF sensor diagnosis explained in the firstembodiment, for example, is executed. According to the presentinvention, when the fuel system is abnormal, the LAF sensor diagnosis isinhibited thereby to prevent the erroneous determination of the LAFsensor diagnosis due to the abnormality of the fuel system.

In the aforesaid explanation, although the periodical signal shown inFIGS. 4A or 4B is used for the LAF sensor diagnosis, the presentinvention is not limited thereto. For example, not only the periodicalsignal but also a step-shaped signal as shown in FIG. 16 may be used inthe present invention. In this case, when the target A/F is changed in astep manner in the open loop, even when the response deterioration indexis set to be a time constant of the detected A/F and the gaindeterioration index is set to be an average of the target A/F and thedetected A/F after the step change, the response deterioration and thegain deterioration can be detected separately.

1. A diagnosis apparatus for an internal combustion engine whichdiagnoses a linear A/F sensor which is disposed within an exhaust pipeof the engine and detects an A/F of exhaust gas, comprising: a unitwhich separately detects response deterioration and gain deteriorationof the linear A/F sensor.
 2. A diagnosis apparatus for an internalcombustion engine according to claim 1, further comprising: a controlmode for controlling the A/F; and a diagnosis mode for diagnosing thelinear A/F sensor, wherein the diagnosis mode includes a diagnosissignal generation unit which applies an A/F deviation at a frequencylower than that of the control mode.
 3. A diagnosis apparatus for aninternal combustion engine according to claim 2, wherein the frequencyof the A/F deviation of the diagnosis mode for diagnosing the linear A/Fsensor in the diagnosis signal generation unit is in a range which islarger than 0 Hz and equal to or less than 1 Hz.
 4. A diagnosisapparatus for an internal combustion engine according to claim 2,wherein the frequency of the A/F deviation of the diagnosis mode fordiagnosing the linear A/F sensor in the diagnosis signal generation unitis in a range which is equal to or larger than 0.3 Hz and equal to orless than 1 Hz.
 5. A diagnosis apparatus for an internal combustionengine according to claim 2, wherein it is determined to be the gaindeterioration when a ratio (hereinafter referred to a gain deteriorationindex) between a peak value of an A/F detected by the linear A/F sensorand a peak value of the A/F deviation controlled by the diagnosis signalgeneration unit is out of a predetermined range.
 6. A diagnosisapparatus for an internal combustion engine according to claim 5,wherein gain characteristics of the linear A/F sensor is corrected basedon the gain deterioration index.
 7. A diagnosis apparatus for aninternal combustion engine according to claim 2, wherein it isdetermined to be the response deterioration when a ratio (hereinafterreferred to a response deterioration index) between a period of an A/Fdetected by the linear A/F sensor and a period of the A/F deviationcontrolled by the diagnosis signal generation unit is larger than apredetermined value.
 8. A diagnosis apparatus for an internal combustionengine according to claim 7, wherein gain characteristics of the linearA/F sensor is corrected based on the response deterioration index.
 9. Adiagnosis apparatus for an internal combustion engine according to claim1, wherein the diagnosis of the linear A/F sensor is inhibited when anabnormality of a fuel system of the engine is detected.
 10. A diagnosisapparatus for an internal combustion engine, comprising: a catalystdeterioration diagnosis mode which detects deterioration of a catalystbased on outputs of a linear A/F sensor and an A/F sensor, the catalystbeing disposed within a path of exhaust gas of the engine, the linearA/F sensor being disposed on an upstream side of the catalyst, and theA/F sensor being disposed on a downstream side of the catalyst; and alinear A/F sensor deterioration diagnosis mode in which a frequency of adiagnosis mode for diagnosing the linear A/F sensor is lower than afrequency of a control mode for controlling the A/F, wherein both thecatalyst deterioration diagnosis mode and the linear A/F sensordeterioration diagnosis mode are carried out.
 11. A diagnosis apparatusfor an internal combustion engine according to claim 10, wherein thefrequency of the A/F deviation of the diagnosis mode for diagnosing thelinear A/F sensor in the linear A/F sensor deterioration diagnosis modeis in a range which is equal to or larger than 0 Hz and equal to or lessthan 1 Hz.
 12. A diagnosis apparatus for an internal combustion engineaccording to claim 10, wherein the frequency of the A/F deviation of thediagnosis mode for diagnosing the linear A/F sensor in the linear A/Fsensor deterioration diagnosis mode is in a range which is equal to orlarger than 0.3 Hz and equal to or less than 1 Hz.
 13. A diagnosisapparatus for an internal combustion engine according to claim 10,wherein both the catalyst deterioration diagnosis mode and the linearA/F sensor deterioration diagnosis mode are carried out simultaneously.14. A diagnosis apparatus for an internal combustion engine according toclaim 10, wherein it is determined to be the gain deterioration when aratio (hereinafter referred to a gain deterioration index) between apeak value of an A/F detected by the linear A/F sensor and a peak valueof the A/F deviation controlled by the linear A/F sensor deteriorationdiagnosis mode is out of a predetermined range.
 15. A diagnosisapparatus for an internal combustion engine according to claim 14,wherein gain characteristics of the linear A/F sensor is corrected basedon the gain deterioration index.
 16. A diagnosis apparatus for aninternal combustion engine according to claim 10, wherein it isdetermined to be the response deterioration when a ratio (hereinafterreferred to a response deterioration index) between a period of an A/Fdetected by the linear A/F sensor and a period of the A/F deviationcontrolled by the linear A/F sensor deterioration diagnosis mode islarger than a predetermined value.
 17. A diagnosis apparatus for aninternal combustion engine according to claim 16, wherein gaincharacteristics of the linear A/F sensor is corrected based on theresponse deterioration index.
 18. A diagnosis apparatus for an internalcombustion engine according to claim 10, wherein the diagnosis of thelinear A/F sensor is inhibited when an abnormality of a fuel system ofthe engine is detected.
 19. A diagnosis apparatus for an internalcombustion engine which includes a linear A/F sensor which is disposedwithin an exhaust pipe of the engine and detects an A/F of exhaust gas,comprising: an abnormality alarm unit which notifies gain deteriorationof the linear A/F sensor through a display or a sound signal.
 20. Adiagnosis apparatus for an internal combustion engine according to claim19, wherein the abnormality alarm unit for the linear A/F sensor outputsa trouble code or lighten a mill.